We’re edging ever closer to Christmas and there’s plenty of festive fun for families in York this week. The York Museums Trust activities (ie. the ones at York Castle Museum and Yorkshire Museum) have finished for the term, but there’s lots else on to fill in the hours when you’re not Christmas shopping. Don’t forget to check out the best places to meet Santa in York this Christmas in our handy guide: https://little-vikings.co.uk/features/meet-santa-york-christmas/ and our panto round-up here: https://little-vikings.co.uk/features/york-panto-round/. Here are details of what’s on at the Jorvik attractions, too. The panto starts at York Theatre Royal this week, and we’re going to check out Cinderella too – review to follow. Whatever you do, have a good one!

Monday 9^th December

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Tuesday 10^th December

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Wednesday 11^th December

Big Scream (parents/carers and babies under one) – City Screen Picturehouse – 11am – normal admission prices apply

This week’s film is Nebraska.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Thursday 12^th December

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Friday 13^th December

Toddler Time – City Screen Picturehouse – 11.30am – £3 for children, accompanying adults free if you join the Toddler Time club (free).

This week’s film is Rastamouse.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Saturday 14^th December

Victorian Christmas – York Castle Museum – open daily 9.30am to 5pm (closed from 2.30pm on 24^th December and closed 25^th, 26^th December and 1 January) –  adults £8.50, under 16s with an adult are free – YorkCard holders go free

Lots of lovely Victorian Christmas activities to enjoy at York Castle Museum. For more details, see our feature.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

Kids Club – City Screen Picturehouse – 10.45am (activities), 11.15am (film) – £3 non-members/£1 members. Membership is £4.

This week’s film is The Muppet Christmas Carol.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Winter sculpture exhibition – Beningbrough Hall – 9^th November to 23^rd February 2014 (weekends only) – 11am to 3.30pm – Normal admission prices apply

This indoor and outdoor exhibition of life-size sculptures by award-winning sculptor Andrew Kay captures the powerful anatomy of wild beasts.

Christmas at Castle Howard – Castle Howard – Saturday 23^rd November to Sunday 22^nd December 2013 – 10am (house opens at 11am) and last admission at 4pm – Entry to farm shop, garden centre, courtyard etc. is free; entry to house and grounds from £14 for adults/£7.50 for children (under fives free); entry to grounds £9.50 for adults/£6 for children over five (under fives free)

Experience the glamour and grandeur of Castle Howard, decked out in all its festive glory. Discover candlelit interiors, a stunning display of Howard family ‘twigs’, winter garlands and floral arrangements. Outdoors there are all the usual delights, including the fantastic adventure play area and loads of opportunities for stunning woodland walks. The gift shops, farm shop and garden centre will all be open, too, ready to help you tick the last gifts from your Christmas list.

Santa Specials – North York Moors Railway, Pickering Station – 30^th November and 1^st, 7^th to 8^th, 14^th to 15^th and 21^st to 22^nd December – £14.50 per adult/child

Book now to join Santa and friends for festive fun on the Santa Express, a shuttle service departing Pickering, Grosmont and Whitby stations. Ticket price includes return travel, a present per child, mince pies for all, and a hot or cold drink for everyone (and an alcoholic tipple for the grown-ups. There will also be festive entertainment at Pickering station between 12.30pm and 1.40pm and 2.15pm and 3.15pm. Dogs are not permitted and buggy space is limited, so leave it in the car if possible.

Sunday 15^th December

Victorian Christmas – York Castle Museum – open daily 9.30am to 5pm (closed from 2.30pm on 24^th December and closed 25^th, 26^th December and 1 January) –  adults £8.50, under 16s with an adult are free – YorkCard holders go free

Lots of lovely Victorian Christmas activities to enjoy at York Castle Museum. For more details, see our feature.

Festival of Angels – York City Centre – 10am to 6pm – Free

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore.

Santa Specials – North York Moors Railway, Pickering Station – 30^th November and 1^st, 7^th to 8^th, 14^th to 15^th and 21^st to 22^nd December – £14.50 per adult/child

Book now to join Santa and friends for festive fun on the Santa Express, a shuttle service departing Pickering, Grosmont and Whitby stations. Ticket price includes return travel, a present per child, mince pies for all, and a hot or cold drink for everyone (and an alcoholic tipple for the grown-ups. There will also be festive entertainment at Pickering station between 12.30pm and 1.40pm and 2.15pm and 3.15pm. Dogs are not permitted and buggy space is limited, so leave it in the car if possible.

Winter sculpture exhibition – Beningbrough Hall – 9^th November to 23^rd February 2014 (weekends only) – 11am to 3.30pm – Normal admission prices apply

This indoor and outdoor exhibition of life-size sculptures by award-winning sculptor Andrew Kay captures the powerful anatomy of wild beasts.

Christmas at Castle Howard – Castle Howard – Saturday 23^rd November to Sunday 22^nd December 2013 – 10am (house opens at 11am) and last admission at 4pm – Entry to farm shop, garden centre, courtyard etc. is free; entry to house and grounds from £14 for adults/£7.50 for children (under fives free); entry to grounds £9.50 for adults/£6 for children over five (under fives free)

Experience the glamour and grandeur of Castle Howard, decked out in all its festive glory. Discover candlelit interiors, a stunning display of Howard family ‘twigs’, winter garlands and floral arrangements. Outdoors there are all the usual delights, including the fantastic adventure play area and loads of opportunities for stunning woodland walks. The gift shops, farm shop and garden centre will all be open, too, ready to help you tick the last gifts from your Christmas list.